Breaker-tread assembly transfer ring size changing mechanism

ABSTRACT

An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum is disclosed. The transfer ring includes front and back support rings rigidly coupled to one another, and a cam ring formed with a plurality of cam races disposed in an annular sequence therein rotatably carried between the front and back rings. A plurality of arcuate segments are slidably positioned between the cam ring and the back ring and are arranged circumferentially about a central axis. Cam followers on the segments engage the cam races of the cam ring, and the segments are constrained to move in a substantially radial direction relative to the central axis in response to the relative rotation of the cam ring with respect to the front and back rings. Two power cylinders are connected between the front ring and the cam ring for rotating the latter relative to the front and back rings, and an adjustable control unit is coupled between the front ring and the cam ring for limiting the rotation of the latter and thereby constraining the radial movement of the segments between selected limits.

United States Patent [1 1 Habert 1 Feb. 11, 1975 BREAKER-TREAD ASSEMBLY TRANSFER RING SIZE CHANGING MECHANISM William Charles Habert, Fraser, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Uniroyal Inc., New York, NY.

{22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 319,354

[75] inventor:

Leblond Leblond 156/417 Primary Examiner-Clifton B. Cosby Attorney, Agent, or Firm-l-lerbert A. Stern, Esq.

[57 ABSTRACT An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum is disclosed. The transfer ring includes front and back support rings rigidly coupled to one another, and a cam ring formed with a plurality of cam races disposed in an annular sequence therein rotatably carried between the front and back rings. A plurality of arcuate segments are slidably positioned between the cam ring and the back ring and are arranged circumferentially about a central axis. Cam followers on the segments engage the cam races of the cam ring, and the segments are constrained to move in a substantially radial direction relative to the central axis in response to the relative rotation of the cam ring with respect to the front and back rings. Two power cylinders are connected between the front ring and the cam ring for rotating the latter relative to the front and back rings, and an adjustable control unit is coupled between the front ring and the cam ring for limiting the rotation of the latter and thereby constraining the radial movement of the segments between selected limits.

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEHI mars SHEEI 10F 5 PATENTED FEB I 1 I975 SHEET 20F 5 PATENTED FEB I I I975 SHEEI l BF 5 PATENTEDFEBI H975 SHEET 5 OF 5 V/// ////m// Z 1 BREAKER-TREAD ASSEMBLY TRANSFER RING SIZE CHANGING MECHANISM The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tire building apparatus and more particularly to a transfer ring for conveying breaker-tread assemblies from a breaker-tread assembly building drum to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping drum.

In the building of tires having breakers or belts incorporated in the crown area of the tire, as in the case, for example, of belted radial ply tires, a two stage process is conventionally employed. During the first stage of building, a cylindrical tire carcass is formed, having one or more rubbercovered cord plies anchored to and interconnecting axially spaced, parallel, co-axial bead cores, and a layer of rubber sidewall stock on each sidewall area of the carcass intermediate the eventual crown'area thereof and the two bead areas thereof. Such a carcass is referred to herein as a first stage carcass. During the second stage of building, the shape of the first stage carcass is changed from a cylinder to a toroid, and one or more rubber-covered cord breaker plies and a rubber tread slab are added to the crown portion ofthe tire carcass to form what is termed herein a second stage carcass. The term rubber as used herein is intended to cover natural and synthetic rubbers and rubber-like materials, as well as blends thereof. The term cord" as used herein is intended to cover single or multiple strands, filaments. wires or cables ofnat ural and/or synthetic textile materials such as cotton, rayon, nylon, polyester, glass fiber, and the like, metal and/or such other materials as may be used as reinforcements in pneumatic vehicle tires.

As above stated, the shape of the first stage carcass is changed during the second stage of building from a cylinder to a toroid, and breaker plies and a rubber tread slab are added to the tire carcass to form the aforementioned second stage carcass. Machines of the type presently known in the art for building tires frequently utilize two stations to perform this function. The first station is utilized to fabricate the breakertread assembly by successively winding the various plies of each breaker and the tread slab about a radially expansible and contractible breaker building drum. A radially expansible and contractible and axially movable transfer ring is then utilized to convey the breakertread assembly from the first station to the second station at which is positioned the aforementioned cylindrical carcass, the second station including support and shaping disks and movable, conical, shaping rings engageable with the carcass sidewalls for shaping the first stage carcass into the second stage carcass during inflation thereof. The breaker-tread assembly is transferred from the outer surface of the breaker building drum to the inner surface of the radially expansible and contractible transfer ring, by bringing. the ring, in its radially expanded condition, into a position surrounding the breaker-tread assembly and then radially contracting the ring into engagement with the assembly. Thereafter the breaker-tread assembly building drum is contracted to allow movement of the transfer ring, with the breaker-tread assembly contained therein, to a suitable position relative to the inflatable first stage carcass. This suitable position to which the transfer ring moves each breaker-tread assembly is a position encircling the eventual crown area of the first stage carcass which is positioned on the aforementioned support and shaping disks. The carcass is then inflated and the crown area thereof expands into pressurized contact with. and adheres to, the inner surface of the breaker-tread assembly in the transfer ring to form the desired second stage carcass. The transfer ring is then radially expanded, releasing the breaker-tread assembly, and moved axially away from the second stage carcass, allowing the carcass to be deflated and removed from the support and shaping disks.

Although tire making machines of the type presently known in the art are efficient and produce uniform. high quality, second stage carcasses, the transfer rings frequently used as components thereof, an example of such a representative transfer ring being disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,603, are subject to the disadvantage that they are primarily designed to manufacture only a single size or a closely related number of sizes of tires. Where the sizes of the tires to be manufactured differ significantly from one another, as, for example. when the bead diameters are changed and the spacing between the beads is changed substantially, such transfer rings must be extensively and manually reworked or modified during a time-consuming and therefore costly shutdown to enable a change-over from the manufacture of one tire size to another.

Accordingly the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved tire building apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tire building apparatus for precisely and uniformly conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a shaping mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved breaker-tread assembly transfer ring which has greater flexibility than presently known transfer rings so that it may be easily and quickly converted to enable the manufacture of tires of a size different from that of tires previously being manufactured in conjunction therewith.

Further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

Briefly stated, and in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, there is provided an expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breakertread assembly from the breaker building drum of the tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a shaping mechanism. The transfer ring includes a support means, annular cam means mounted on said support means for relative rotation therebetween, a plural ity of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam means and slidably mounted on said support means in a circular arrangement having a central axis, said segments being constrained to radially inward and outward movements relative to said central axis in response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam means and said support means and having respective radially inwardly directed surfaces for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assembly, drive means interconnected between said support means and said cam means for effecting said relative rotation between said 3 cam means and said support means and adjustable control means coupled between said support means and said cam means for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments. 1

While the specificationconcludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention herein, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: v

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side elevational view of a tire building machine including a breaker-tread assembly transfer ring embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the transfer ring taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the transfer ring;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned, exploded, perspective detailed view of a portion of the transfer ring shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 5, the view being taken in the direction of arrow A;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the transfer ring shown in FIG. 2 and illustrates details of the adjusting mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a tire building machine in accordance with one embodiment of this invention has been illustrated. The tire building machine generally comprises a radially expansible and contractible, rotatable building drum, shown generally at 1, upon which breaker-tread assemblies are formed. The breaker ply structure to which the tread is ultimately applied is built up on a magnetized, outer surface 2 of the drum, which drum may be of the type shown in US Pat. No. 3,676,262 to Jean Leblond. The magnetized outer surface of the drum serves to attract the metallic cords of the breaker to drum 1 to aid in holding the breaker properly on the drum. Suitable driving means, not shown, is provided for rotating the drum via suitable drive belts 4. v

The machine further includes a transfer ring 5 for transferring or conveying the breaker-tread assembly formed on drum 1 in an axial direction from the drum to a tire carcass shaping mechanism, shown generally at S. The transfer ring 5 is provided with a radially expansible and contractible discontinuous segmental ring 6 (FIG. 2), each segment having an inwardly directed tread engaging surface 7 conforming generally to the contour of the outer surface of the tread in the breakertread assembly formed on building drum 1. The transfer ring 5 is arranged for axial movement along the base of the machine, in one direction from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position in which it surrounds the building drum 1 in the median plane of symmetry BB of the surface 2, and in the other direction from the FIG. 1 position to a position in the median plane of symmetry M--M of the shaping mechanism S. The means for movingthe transfer ring includes a power cylinder 8, the piston rod 8a of which is connected to a sliding block 8b movable in a guide track 9 affixed to the machine base, the sliding block 8b being rigidly connected to and serving as the support for the transfer ring 5.- I

As will be describedin greater detail'hereinafter, suitable meansis-provided on transfer ring 5 .for radially contracting segmental ring 6 into contact with the outer surface of a breaker-tread assembly on building drum 1. In building a tire, after-the segmental ring 6 is moved radially inward into contact with a breakertread assembly on the building drum 1, the drum is radially contracted to transfer sole control over the breaker-tread assembly to the transfer ring 5. Thereafter, this ring is axially shifted to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, into vertical alignment with the median equatorial plane, indicated at M-M, ofa first stage carcass (not shown) mounted on end plates or disks l0 and 11 which comprise the carcass supporting portion of the tire carcass shaping mechanism S.

The sidewall shaping portions of the tire shaping mechanism S, comprising conical shaping rings 25 and 26, are now movedtoward the median equatorial plane of the tire M-M, into contact with the bead portions of the carcass which are sealingly engaged by the disks l0 and 11. At this time, the interior of the carcass on the disks 10 and 11 is inflated with fluid under pressure via conduit 24, and the shaping rings 25 and 26 and the disks I0 and 11 are axially moved .closer to plane M-M to cause thefirst stage carcass to expand into contact with both the interior of the breaker-tread assembly, carried in transfer ring 5, and the conical interior surfaces 27 and 28 of the shaping rings 25 and 26 respectively. The conical configuration of the interior surfaces 27 and 28 of the shaping rings confines the expansion of the carcass to a symmetrically centered pattern with respect to the breaker-tread assembly and the beads of the carcass.

After the carcass has beenexpanded into contact with the breaker-tread assembly, the shaping rings 25 and 26 are moved axially away from the carcass, the segmental ring 6 of the transfer ring 5 is expanded radially outward to free it from contact with the tread portion of the breaker-tread assembly, the transfer ring 5 is shifted axially out of alignment with the median equatorial plane M-M of the tire to a point clear of the carcass, the carcass is stitched, the pressure in the carcass is relieved, and the disks 10and 11 are moved closer together to break the adhesion of the carcass therewith. Thereafter, the carcass is removed from the machine and the machine is returned to the condition shown in FIG. 1, ready to be recycled for the building of a new breaker-tread assembly and for the application of this new assembly to a new first stage carcass.

For a more detailed description of portions of the tire building machine illustrated in FIG. 1, excepting the transfer ring portion thereof, the reader is directed to US. Pat. No. 3,676,262 to Jean Leblond. Since the details of such other portions of the machine form no part of the present invention, no further discussion of the remainder of the machine will be herein provided and this specification will continue with a detailed description of the improved transfer ring 5.

A THE TRANSFER RING Turning now to FIGS. 2 through 9 there is shown in detail the structural relationship between the various components comprising transfer ring 5. Transfer ring 5 includes a front ring or member formed with a pair of annular flanges 30a and 30b (FIGS. 4 and 5), one flange being at the outer periphery of member 30 and the other flange being at the inner periphery thereof. A cam ring 31 formed with a plurality of arcuate cam races 32, each extending from the outer periphery to the inner periphery of the cam ring as most clearly seen in FIG. 2, fits into and is guided by the recess formed in member 30 between flanges 30a and 30b. A back ring or member 33, formed with a plurality of projections 34 (FIGS. 4-6) disposed at circumferentially spaced locations thereabout, is maintained in fixed spaced relation to said front ring 30 by screws 35, or other suitable connecting means. The screws 35 extend through aligned holes 36 and 37 formed in front ring 30 and projections 34 respectively, the holes 37 being threaded for engagement by the threads of screws 35.

A plurality of tee shaped segments 40, each having an arcuate base indicated at 40a and a lip 41 at the end thereof opposite said base, are mounted for reciprocal, radial, sliding movement at circumferentially spaced locations about a central axis between cam ring 31 and back ring 33. Each segment 40 is coupled to cam ring 30 by a cam roll mechanism or cam follower 42 which engages a corresponding one of the races 32. Each cam follower 42 is fastened to its respective segment 40 by a thread shaft 43 and a nut 44. Each segment 40 is maintained in sliding engagement with back ring 33 by means of a pair of guide rods 46, the opposite ends of which rods are fixed to the base 40a and the lip 41 of the segment. The reciprocal movement of each lip 41 is accommodated in a corresponding one of a plurality of guide recesses 47 formed in the back ring 33, between projections 34. A bushing or guide block 48 fixedly carried by back ring 33 in each recess 47 slideably supports and guides the rods 48 interjacent their ends by means of a pair of ball bushing assemblies 49 which are held in place by retainer rings 50. The guide blocks 48 are fixed to the back ring 33 by screws 51.

As will now be understood by examination of FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the tee shaped arcuate segments 40 will move in a substantially radial direction with respect to their central axis in response to rotation of cam ring 31 relative to front ring 30 and back ring 33. The plurality of segments 40 thus form the expansible and contractible discontinuous segmental ring 6 which grips the breaker-tread assembly. Turning first to FIG. 5, it is seen that with cam follower 42 engaging cam race 32, rotation of cam 31 in the clockwise direction, i.e., in the direction of arrow 61, will move segment 40 in a radially inward direction, contracting transfer ring 5. Conversely, as cam ring 31 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, cam follower 42 will be urged upwardly by cam race 32 and segment 40 will therefore move in a radially outward direction. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a segment 40 in various radially extended positions. Segment 40 is shown in its most radially outward position with respect to the central axis, i.e., with transfer ring 5 expanded, in solid lines in FIG. 4, and in its most radially inward position, corresponding to contraction of transfer ring 5, in broken lines in said FIG. FIG. 5 illustrates segment 40 in broken lines at 62, its radially most inward position, which position corresponds to cam follower 42 enga'gingportion 63 of cam race 32. Segment 40 is shown in solid lines at its radially most outward position, which position corresponds to cam follower 42 engaging portion 64 of cam race 32, and it is shown in broken lines at 65, a partially extended position, indicating engagement of cam follower 42 with race 32 at a point between positions 63 and 64.

FIG. 6 is a view of the transfer ring taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5. It illustrates the arcuate base 40a of a segment 40 in detail and shows the relative positions thereon of a pair of prongs 66. The prongs, which may be of a rigid material such as steel, extend radially inward from base 40a and enable the segment to securely grip a breaker-tread assembly upon contraction of the transfer ring and during conveyance of the assembly from the building drum to the first stage carcass.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a front elevational view of the instant transfer ring 5. Front ring 30 is indicated in solid lines, cam ring 31 and cam races 32 are indicated in broken lines, and back ring 33 is substantially hidden except for a flange which extends downwardly from the bottom of the transfer ring and serves as a means by which the transfer ring is fastened to and supported by the sliding block 8b(FIG. 1).

The expansible and contractible ring 6 comprises the above discussed plurality of substantially identical, arcuate, radially movable segments 40, there being 19 such segments shown, for purposes of example only, in the present embodiment. When the segments 40 are joined together as illustrated at broken lines 71 they form a hollow cylinder, the axial cross-sectional profile of the inner surface 7 of which preferably corresponds in shape to the outer surface of the breaker-tread assembly that is to be conveyed. Radial movement of segments 40 is limited by the structure of the transfer ring so far discussed to positions between that indicated at 71 and the expanded position of transfer ring 5 indicated by the interrupted solid line 72 in FIG. 2. Additional structure is provided, however, for further limiting radial movement, primarily radially inward or contracting movement, of the segments and this additional structure, and the purpose thereof, will be discussed below. At the outer or expanded position of the segments, the inner diameter of the segmental ring 6 formed thereby is greater than the maximum outer diameter of a breaker-tread assembly formed on drum 1. With the segments 40 in their outer position, transfer ring 5 may be freely moved axially from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position in which its median plane is in alignment with the median plane of drum 1, there being clearance between the outer extremities of the breakentread assembly on the drum and the inner portion of the transfer ring.

Turning now to the means by which transfer ring 5 is radially actuated, FIG. 2 shows that cam ring 31 is rotated relative to front ring 30 by a pair of synchronously operated power cylinders 73 and 74, it being understood of course that any suitable drive means could be used in place of the illustrated cylinders. Cylinders 73 and 74 are pivotally connected by pivots 75 and 76, respectively, to brackets 77 and 78, respectively, which are fixedly attached to front ring 30. Power cylinders 73 and 74 each have pistons, not shown, operatively associated therewith, which pistons are provided with piston rods 79 and 80, respectively, the piston rods extending out of the ends of the power cylinders remote from brackets 77 and 78. Piston rods 79 and 80 are pivotally connected by means of respective adapters90 and 91 to'respective transverse rods 92 and 93 which are affixed to cam ring 31, this being most readily seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Transverse rods 92 and 93 extend through respective elongated arcuate slots 94 and 95 formed in ring 30 and provide the coupling by which cylinders 73 and 74 may effectively rotate cam ring 31 relative to front ring 30 and back ring 33.

As previously stated with respect to FIGS. 2 and 5, the clockwise rotation of cam ring 31 relative to rings 30 and 33 will urge segments 40 in a radially inward direction causing contraction of transfer ring and enabling it to grip, with the aid of prongs 66, a breakertread assembly. It will be understood of course that' as power cylinders 73 and 74 drive respective transverse rods 92 and 93 from one end to the other or their corresponding slots, thereby rotating cam ring 31, segments 40 will move radially inwardly and outwardly, contracting and expanding transfer ring 5 between the positions indicated at 71 and 72. It is desirable, however, that the radially inward movement of segments 40 to be controllable, i.e., that the radially most inward position of segments 40 be selectable to be between those indicated at 71 and 72. This would allow breaker-tread assemblies of differing diameters, corresponding to tires of various sizes, to be readily, and without costly modification, gripped and conveyed by the transfer ring. To this end there is provided an adjustable control means to adjustably limit the radially inward movement of segments 40. This means is indicated generally at 100 in FIG. 2 and is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

FIG. 7 illustrates the control unit 100. It includes an elongated lead screw 101, a handle 102 connected thereto and an F-shaped blocking bracket 103 cantilevered on and in threaded engagement with the screw 101 for reciprocal movement therealong. Bracket 103 slidingly engages guide rods 104 and 105 and supports a limit switch 106 which is actuated by contact. A tongue or rod 107 is connected to and extends perpendicularly from cam ring 31 and a threaded bolt 108 extends through a threaded aperture 109 formed therein (FIG. 8). Tongue 107 extends through an arcuate slot 110 formed in front ring 30, tongue 107 beinng in alignment with limit switch 106 and supporting the bolt 108 in alignment with the upper portion of bracket 103. Limit switch 106 extends a distance X to the left of bracket 103, as viewed in FIG. 8, in the direction of tongue 107, and bolt 108 is adjusted to extend slightly less than the distance X" to the right of tongue 107, as viewed in FIG. 8, in the direction of bracket 103. As cylinders 73 and 74 cause cam ring 31 to rotate relative to rings and 33 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, tongue 107 and bolt 108 move toward limit switch 106 and bracket 103 respectively, tongue 107 actuating switch 106 and bolt 108 simultaneously coming into contact with bracket 103.Contact between bolt 108 and bracket 103 prevents further rotation of cam ring 31, and actuation of switch 106 by tongue 107 causes a suitable signal circuit (not shown), to which switch 106 is coupled, to signal appropriate portions of the tire building machine that rotation of cam ring 31 has ceased indicating that a breaker-tread assembly has been gripped by transfer ring 5. By turning the handle 102 in a direction to cause bracket 103 to move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 7, the potential rotational movement of cam ring 31 may be decreased by any desired amount. Accordingly,.it will be seen that such rotation of handle 102 also limits the radially inward movement of segments 40. This adjustability of the radially inner position of the segments 40 gives a high degree'of flexibility to the transfer ring in that it allows the transfer ring to be rapidly adjusted to accommodate different size tires, i.e., tires having breakertread assemblies of differing diameters.

Adjustable control means is also designed to provide a means to adjustably limit the radially outward movement of segments 40. Referring to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the control means 100 includes an arm or flange which is connected perpendicularly to front ring 30 by a mounting bracket 12]. A threaded bolt 122 is provided which extends through a threaded aperture 123 formed in arm 120 and serves to limit the travel of cam ring 31. As cylinders 73 and 74 retract their respective piston rods 79 and 80, thereby rotating cam ring 31 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, tongue 107(FIG. 8) moves toward bolt 122 until they contact one another. This stops the movement of the cam ring and effectively limits the expansion of transfer ring 5 The radially outward stopping position of segments 40 may thus bechanged by adjusting the position of bolt 122 relative to arm 120.

To aid the operator of the instant transfer ring in adjustments thereof and to edify him with regard to the setting at any given timevof the radially inner stopping position of the segments 40, an indicia means, for example av counter 124 (FIG. 7) of any suitable type, is mounted on a bracket 125 connected to front ring 30. The counter is coupled by a shaft 126 and an adapter 127 to threaded shaft 101 and displays information relative to the rotation of shaft 101. This information, in turn, is indicative of the diameter of the breaker-tread assembly which can be accomodated by transfer ring 5. Appropriate conversion charts maybe provided to correlate the turns of the screw with the position of bracket 103, the various positions of bracket 103 in turn corresponding to the diameters of the breakertread assemblies to be carried by the transfer ring.

Suitable known electrical and fluid control circuits may be provided to initiate simultaneous operation of power cylinders 73 and 74 at proper times during operation of the machine shown in FIG. 1 to move the segments 40 from their contracted position to their expanded position and vice versa. Such circuits would also control the operation of power cylinder 8 and would be operatively associated with control circuits of the remaining components of the machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that this invention provides an improved tire building apparatus for transferring or conveying breaker-tread assemblies from a building drum in a tire building machine to tire carcasses mounted on a shaping mechanisin, the improved apparatus comprising .a transfer ring which can be quickly and easily adjusted to accept breaker-tread assemblies of significantly different diameters.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and it is, therefore, the purpose of the appended claims to cover all such changes and 9 modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: a

1. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising:

support means;

annular cam means mounted on said support means for relative rotation therebetween;

a plurality of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam means and slidably mounted on said support means in a circular arrangement having a central axis,

each of said segments being constrained to radially inward and outward movements relative to said central axis in response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam means and said support means and having respective radially inwardly directed surfaces for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assembly;

drive means interconnected between said support means and said cam means for effecting said relative rotation between said cam means and said support means; and

adjustable control means coupled between said support means and said cam means for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments.

2. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising:

support means;

annular cam means mounted on said support means for relative rotation therebetween;

a plurality of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam means and slidably mounted on said support means in a circular arrangement having a central axis,

each of said segments being constrained to radially inward and outward movements relative to said central axis in response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam means and said support means and having respective radially inwardly directed surfaces for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assembly;

drive means interconnected between said support means and said cam means for effecting said relative rotation between said cam means and said support means;

and

adjustable control means coupled between said support means and said cam means for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments;

said control means comprising:

a tongue rigidly connected to said cam means for 6 movement therewith, said tongue extending through an arcuate slot formed in said support means;

arresting means movably carried by said support means in alignment with said tongue and adapted to be positioned at aselected point along at least a portion of the length of said arcuate slot; and 5 placement means coupled to said arresting means for positioning said arresting means a selected distance from said tongue. 3. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 wherein said arresting means inl0 cludes a blocking bracket;

wherein said placement means includes a screw rotatably mounted on said support member and in threaded engagement with said bracket for reciprocatingly moving said bracket in response to rotation of said screw; and

wherein said control means further includes indicia means responsive to the rotation of said screw for indicating the diameter of the breaker-tread assembly for which the transfer ring is set.

4. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of arcuate cam races disposed in an annular spaced sequence about said cam means,

the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing from one portion to another of each of said races; and

a plurality of cam followers, one connected to each of said segments and in sliding engagement with one of said races, for moving said segments in said radial direction in response to said relative rotation.

5. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 4 further comprising:

a plurality of guide recesses formed in said support 35 means; and

a plurality of guide means connected to said segments and radially movably positioned in said re cesses for constraining the movement of said segments to radial movement relative to said central axis.

6. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises:

a power cylinder pivotally coupled to one or the other of said support means and said cam means;

a piston maintained within said cylinder; and

a piston rod connected to said piston pivotally coupled to the remaining one of said support means and said cam means.

7. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 1 wherein each of said segments comprises:

a substantially tee shaped member having an arcuate base; and

a plurality of prongs extending radially inwardly from said base adapted to securely grip said breakertread assembly.

8. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a breaker building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising:

a front ring disposed about a central axis having a pair of annular flanges at theinner and outer peripheries thereof thereby forming a recess between said flanges,

a cam ring supported in said recess for relative rotation between said front ring and said cam ring, the

latter having a plurality of arcuate cam'races disposed in an annular spaced sequence thereabout,

- the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing from one portion to another of each of said races;

a back ring maintained in fixed spaced relation with said front ring, said back ring having a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced, guide recesses formed therein;

a plurality of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam ring and slidably mounted on said back ring in a circular arrangement about said central axis,

each of said segments including a cam follower in engagement with one of said races for moving said segments in a response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam ring and and slideably positioned in said guide recessesfor constraining the movement of said segments to radially inward and outward movement relative to said central axis;

drive means interconnected between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for effecting said relative rotation between said cam ring and said front and back rings; and

adjustable control means coupled between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments.

9. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a breaker building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising:

a front ring disposed about a central axis having a pair of annular flanges at the inner and outer peripheries thereof thereby forming a recess between said flanges,

a cam ring supported in said recess for relative rotation between said front ring and said cam ring, the latter having a plurality of arcuate cam races disposed in an annular spaced sequence thereabout,

the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing from one portion to another of each of said races;

a back ring maintained in fixed spaced relation with said front ring, said back ring having a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced, guide recesses formed therein;

a plurality of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam ring and slidably mounted on said back ring in a circular arrangement about said central axis,

each of said segments including a cam follower in engagement with one of said races for moving said segments in response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam ring and said front ring and having a radially inward directed surface for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assemy;

a plurality of guide means coupled to said segments and slideably positioned in said guide recesses for constraining the movement of said segments to radially inward and outward movement relative to said central axis;

drive means interconnected between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for effecting said relative'rotation between said cam ring and said front and back rings; and

adjustable control means coupled between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments;

said control means comprising: i

a tongue rigidly connected to said cam ring for movement therewith, said tongue extending through an arcuate slot formed in said front ring;

arresting meansmovably carried by said front ring in alignment with said tongue and adapted to be positioned at a selected point along at least a portion of the length of said arcuate slot; and

placement'means coupled to said arresting means for positioning said arresting means a selected distance from said tongue.

10. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 9 wherein said arresting means includes a blocking bracket;

wherein said placement means includes a screw rotatably mounted on said support member-and in threaded engagement with said bracket for reciprocatingly moving said bracket in response to rotation of said screw; and

wherein said control, means further includes indicia means responsive to the rotation of said screw for indic ating the diameter of the breaker-tread assembly for which the transfer ring is set.

11. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 further comprising: i v

a plurality of arcuate cam races'disposed in an annular spaced sequence about said cam means,

the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing'from one portion to another of each of said races; and

a plurality of cam followers, one connected to each of said segments and in sliding engagement with one of said races, for moving'said segments in said radial direction in response to said relative rotation.

l2. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 11 further comprising:

a plurality of guide means connected to said segments and radially movably positioned in said recesses for constraining the movement of said segments to radial movement relative to said central axis.

13. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises:

a power cylinder pivotally coupled to one or the other of said support means and said cam means;

a piston maintained within said cylinder; and

a piston rod connected to said piston pivotally coupled to the remaining one of said support means i and said cam means.

14. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 wherein each of said segments comprises:

a substantially tee shaped member having an arcuate base; and

a plurality of prongs extending radially inwardly from said base adapted to securely grip said breakertread assembly. 

1. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising: support means; annular cam means mounted on said support means for relative rotation therebetween; a plurality of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam means and slidably mounted on said support means in a circular arrangement having a central axis, each of said segments being constrained to radially inward and outward movements relative to said central axis in response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam means and said support means and having respective radially inwardly directed surfaces for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assembly; drive means interconnected between said support means and said cam means for effecting said relative rotation between said cam means and said support means; and adjustable control means coupled between said support means and said cam means for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments.
 2. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising: support means; annular cam means mounted on said support means for relative rotation therebetween; a plurality of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam means and slidably mounted on said support means in a circular arrangement having a central axis, each of said segments being constrained to radially inward and outward movements relative to said central axis in response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam means and said support means and having respective radially inwardly directed surfaces for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assemblY; drive means interconnected between said support means and said cam means for effecting said relative rotation between said cam means and said support means; and adjustable control means coupled between said support means and said cam means for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments; said control means comprising: a tongue rigidly connected to said cam means for movement therewith, said tongue extending through an arcuate slot formed in said support means; arresting means movably carried by said support means in alignment with said tongue and adapted to be positioned at a selected point along at least a portion of the length of said arcuate slot; and placement means coupled to said arresting means for positioning said arresting means a selected distance from said tongue.
 3. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 wherein said arresting means includes a blocking bracket; wherein said placement means includes a screw rotatably mounted on said support member and in threaded engagement with said bracket for reciprocatingly moving said bracket in response to rotation of said screw; and wherein said control means further includes indicia means responsive to the rotation of said screw for indicating the diameter of the breaker-tread assembly for which the transfer ring is set.
 4. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of arcuate cam races disposed in an annular spaced sequence about said cam means, the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing from one portion to another of each of said races; and a plurality of cam followers, one connected to each of said segments and in sliding engagement with one of said races, for moving said segments in said radial direction in response to said relative rotation.
 5. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 4 further comprising: a plurality of guide recesses formed in said support means; and a plurality of guide means connected to said segments and radially movably positioned in said recesses for constraining the movement of said segments to radial movement relative to said central axis.
 6. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises: a power cylinder pivotally coupled to one or the other of said support means and said cam means; a piston maintained within said cylinder; and a piston rod connected to said piston pivotally coupled to the remaining one of said support means and said cam means.
 7. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 1 wherein each of said segments comprises: a substantially tee shaped member having an arcuate base; and a plurality of prongs extending radially inwardly from said base adapted to securely grip said breaker-tread assembly.
 8. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a breaker building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising: a front ring disposed about a central axis having a pair of annular flanges at the inner and outer peripheries thereof thereby forming a recess between said flanges, a cam ring supported in said recess for relative rotation between said front ring and said cam ring, the latter having a plurality of arcuate cam races disposed in an annular spaced sequence thereabout, the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing from one portion to another of each of said races; a back ring maintained in fixed spaced relation with said front ring, said back ring having a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced, guide recesses formed therein; a plurality of arcuate ring segments coUpled to said cam ring and slidably mounted on said back ring in a circular arrangement about said central axis, each of said segments including a cam follower in engagement with one of said races for moving said segments in a response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam ring and said front ring and having a radially inward directed surface for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assembly; a plurality of guide means coupled to said segments and slideably positioned in said guide recesses for constraining the movement of said segments to radially inward and outward movement relative to said central axis; drive means interconnected between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for effecting said relative rotation between said cam ring and said front and back rings; and adjustable control means coupled between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments.
 9. An expansible and contractible transfer ring for conveying a breaker-tread assembly from a breaker building drum in a tire building machine to a tire carcass mounted on a tire shaping mechanism spaced apart from said drum, said transfer ring comprising: a front ring disposed about a central axis having a pair of annular flanges at the inner and outer peripheries thereof thereby forming a recess between said flanges, a cam ring supported in said recess for relative rotation between said front ring and said cam ring, the latter having a plurality of arcuate cam races disposed in an annular spaced sequence thereabout, the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing from one portion to another of each of said races; a back ring maintained in fixed spaced relation with said front ring, said back ring having a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced, guide recesses formed therein; a plurality of arcuate ring segments coupled to said cam ring and slidably mounted on said back ring in a circular arrangement about said central axis, each of said segments including a cam follower in engagement with one of said races for moving said segments in response to corresponding relative rotational movements between said cam ring and said front ring and having a radially inward directed surface for engagement with the outer surface of a tread constituting a part of a breaker-tread assembly; a plurality of guide means coupled to said segments and slideably positioned in said guide recesses for constraining the movement of said segments to radially inward and outward movement relative to said central axis; drive means interconnected between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for effecting said relative rotation between said cam ring and said front and back rings; and adjustable control means coupled between said cam ring and one or the other of said front ring and back ring for adjustably limiting the extent of said relative rotation and of the resultant radial movements of said segments; said control means comprising: a tongue rigidly connected to said cam ring for movement therewith, said tongue extending through an arcuate slot formed in said front ring; arresting means movably carried by said front ring in alignment with said tongue and adapted to be positioned at a selected point along at least a portion of the length of said arcuate slot; and placement means coupled to said arresting means for positioning said arresting means a selected distance from said tongue.
 10. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 9 wherein said arresting means includes a blocking bracket; wherein said placement means includes a screw rotatably mounted on said support member and in threaded engagement with said bracket for reciprocatinglY moving said bracket in response to rotation of said screw; and wherein said control means further includes indicia means responsive to the rotation of said screw for indicating the diameter of the breaker-tread assembly for which the transfer ring is set.
 11. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 further comprising: a plurality of arcuate cam races disposed in an annular spaced sequence about said cam means, the distance from said central axis to each of said races progressively changing from one portion to another of each of said races; and a plurality of cam followers, one connected to each of said segments and in sliding engagement with one of said races, for moving said segments in said radial direction in response to said relative rotation.
 12. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 11 further comprising: a plurality of guide means connected to said segments and radially movably positioned in said recesses for constraining the movement of said segments to radial movement relative to said central axis.
 13. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises: a power cylinder pivotally coupled to one or the other of said support means and said cam means; a piston maintained within said cylinder; and a piston rod connected to said piston pivotally coupled to the remaining one of said support means and said cam means.
 14. An expansible and contractible transfer ring according to claim 2 wherein each of said segments comprises: a substantially tee shaped member having an arcuate base; and a plurality of prongs extending radially inwardly from said base adapted to securely grip said breaker-tread assembly. 